They might be rusted, crumbling and closed or restricted to traffic now, but three dilapidated bridges in Jackson County will be made anew in two years.

The Michigan Department of Transportation approved the replacement of the Warner, Cross and Folks road bridges for the 2014 construction season, pledging $1.9 million in funding. The Jackson County Road Commission, which maintains the bridges, is expected to contribute $100,000 toward the bridge replacements.

The Road Commission has been applying for funding for the projects since as far back as 2000, when the agency sought aid to help repair the Warner and Cross road bridges, said Joe Michalsky, director of engineering for the Road Commission.

Both bridges were open at that time, but had fallen into disrepair, Michalsky said. Parts were missing, steel beams had rusted and supports were failing, he said.

The same was true with the Folks Road bridge, which closed in 2010 following the 2008 closure of the Warner and Cross road bridges, he said. The Warner Road bridge was opened to one lane of traffic and restricted to less than three tons in 2009 after workers completed some repairs, including reinforcing some beams with new steel.

The work was completed at the request of Concord Township officials, who agreed to split the $9,500 cost of repairs on the 79-year-old bridge, which crosses the Kalamazoo River.

A second lane of traffic was not opened because of the structural condition of the bridge, Road Commission officials said at the time.

“They just can’t carry the load anymore,” Michalsky said. “They are not in good shape.”

The Road Commission also sought funding for the 88-year-old Folks Road bridge in Pulaski Township for the past eight years but was not approved until now.

“We thought they were bad enough back then to as for funding,” Michalsky said. “We’re glad we got it.”

Drivers might be glad, too.

Though the bridges are not in high-traffic areas, the lengthy detour routes could be frustrating for motorists who need to pass through.

Once those bridges are replaced, all bridges in Jackson County will be open, Michalsky said.

The Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, which has been lobbying for more bridge funding, reported earlier this year that 26 of 168 bridges in Jackson County were structurally deficient. Half of the bridges were state maintained and on I-94, U.S. 127 and M-50.

The Road Commission also applied for funding for the Michigan Avenue bridge in Parma and the Hague Avenue bridge over the Grand River in Summit Township, but the projects were not approved, he said.